TRENTON — The final few years of Kevin Smith’s life were rough, but he was good to his friends, they said.

“He’d help feed you, clothe you and give you money when you know he doesn’t have much,” J.P., a friend of Smith’s said near a makeshift memorial for Smith in Roebling Market. “Not many cats around here would do that in his position.”

Smith, 50, died on March 26 after he was struck by a tractor trailer while crossing Market Street near Barlow Street in his motorized wheelchair. According to police, no charges or citations have been handed out and the case remains under investigation.

Smith’s misfortune had previously been featured twice in the Trentonian in the past few years. In 2003, the 22-year U.S. Navy veteran was walking along Ewing Street when four juveniles opened fire on him with paintball guns, hitting him around 20 times. Smith lost his left eye in the attack. By 2010, Smith became confined to a wheelchair after years of bad knees, bad hips and prolonged use of prescription medication led to paralysis from the waist down.

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In July of that year, Smith became homeless after getting evicted from his Roebling Avenue apartment. Friends said he had been struggling with the loss of his wife more than 15 years before in a motorcycle accident. It didn’t help that paralysis meant he couldn’t enjoy his second love: motorcycle riding.

“The one thing he missed along with his wife was riding,” J.P. said. “He wanted the wind in his face and would zoom around in his wheelchair.”

“I’ve even seen him out in the snow with lawn mower chains on his tires,” he added. “He just played the hand that he was dealt.”

One night in 2010, Smith had his motorized wheelchair stolen from him while it was recharging in an outlet in a park off South Clinton Avenue. That same week, a Neptune Township woman donated a motorized scooter to him after hearing of his plight.

“He’s been mugged a few times, but he never went quietly,” J.P. said. “He would lunge out of his wheelchair at people.” According to friends, Smith spent most of his days panhandling and hanging out near the park by Roebling Market. It was his preferred location because of the outdoor electrical outlets he could use to charge his wheelchair.

“I’m going to missing hanging out with him,” a woman who identified herself as Ms. Logan said. “Sometimes I’d by him a beer or food and keep him company.”

At night, when he was not permitted to sleep in the park, he would stay with a couple that lives on Pearl Street. The couple could not be reached for comment but has relayed to his friends that he will be buried in a cemetery on South Broad Street and Colonial Avenue. Information on his exact funeral arrangements could not be found.

“I just know he’s up in Heaven smiling down at us,” Benny LeBron said.